Means for connecting eccentric to apron section in a tape condenser



June 14, 1960 c. HOWES MEANS FOR CONNECTING ECCENTRIC TO AFRON SECTION IN A TAPE CONDENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 13, 1959 I'lil Elllll IYI I I a e 8 6 7 8 6 4 m 7 4 4 l e 6 in 9 e m 4 mm law 8 W7 .4 0 5 5 a w a 74 a 4 w v 4 6 4 6 a M lawns-271 03 Iflvz'zzg 0. Howe s, by @25 W4 1 M I flfiowieyd apron sections.

through the strap and pivot.

United States Patent MEANS FOR CONNECTING ECCENTRIC TO APRON SECTION IN A TAPE CONDENSER Irving C. Howes, North Andover, Mass, assignor to Davis & Fur-her Machine Company, North Andover, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Feb. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 793,199 7 Claims. (Cl. 19-153 This invention relates to the textile industry and is particularly concerned with an improvement in the construction of certain parts of a tape condenser which heretofore in the conventional constructions have been subject to excessive wear and breakage. 1

Tape condensers are well known textile machines and include as parts thereof a plurality of pairs of apron sections.

the supporting condenser frame, there is eccentric means for causing horizontal endwise movement of each of the The eccentric means is so arranged that with respect to each pair of apron sections each section 'is shifted back and forth endwise in a direction opposite to, the movement of the other section in a harmonic motion pattern.

In the prior art constructions, the eccentric shaft ex tends, vertically at the end of the machine and has thereon a plurality of eccentrics, each of which is connected by a strap to a pivot which in turn is mounted on a pull bar which extends laterally of and is connected to the crossbar at the end of the apron section. Thus as the eccentric shaft rotates, each apron section is caused to move back and forth endwise in a horizontal direction. With each apron section of each pair moving in the opposite direction to the other at all times, the rubbing effeet is transmittedito thesliver as it passes between the rotating aprons to come out as roving.

'Heretofore considerable trouble has been encountered in the means for transmitting the horizontalmotion imparted by the rotating eccentric to the apron section In view of the speeds at ,which the machines are run and the loads imposed, the straps are subject to breakage; and when this occurs,

the entire machine must be shut down, all the straps must be disconnected from the apron sections, the eccentric shaft with the eccentrics must be removed, and then the eccentric straps slid oif the end of the eccentric shaft until the broken one can be removed. In other words, according to the present practice, it is impossible to replace a broken eccentric strap without first removing the other straps that are either above or below.

I Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a construction which will enable a broken eccentric strap to be replaced without removing the eccentric shaft and other eccentric straps.

Another shortcoming of the present eccentric motion is this: The pivoted connection between the eccentric strap and the pull bar has of necessity, due to the method of connecting the parts in position on the machine, had

Patented June 14, 1960 P CC and corresponding looseness after relatively short periods of use, thus necessitating a shutdown for replacement.

The reason for this play at the pivot is that the connecting pin customarily used must be inserted at the machine, with the result that the degree of tightness at the pivot is not as good as if the connection had been effected by the use of special tools elsewhere.

Accordingly, a second object of the invention is the provision of a new type of pivoted connection between the eccentric strap and the pull bar which will substantially increase the life of the moving parts at this point and minimize shutdowns. 7

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a side elevation of the mechanism at one end of a tape condenser showing one pair of apron rolls and the mechanisms connecting the eccentric shaft to each apron section.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal plan view of Fig. 1 taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 to a somewhat enlarged scale.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a portion of the condenser frame 2 on which is mounted a plurality of pairs of apron sections, the ends of the two lowermost pairs being shown herein at 4 and 6. The apron rolls of the apron sections carry appropriate belts 5 and 7 in the usual manner and the apron rolls are rotated by conventional means located at the other end of the sections and not shown herein. As can be seen in Fig. 2, there are compression rolls 8 in addition to the apron rolls, and the apron rolls and the compression rolls have their shafts extending as at 10 to be disposed in suitable end bearings 12 which are mounted in a crossbar 14. The several shafts 10 are supported vertically on the frame 2 by bearings 16.

The bearings 12 are arranged in such manner that there can be no axial movement of the crossbar 14 with respect to the shafts 10. That is to say, if crossbar 14 is moved back and forth in the direction of the axes of the shafts I 19, the shafts 10 will be correspondingly moved.

a small amount of play therein- This has resulted in wear Crossbar 14 is connected to pull bar 18 by means of a pair of bolts 20 having their heads 22 on the far side of crossbar 14 with the appropriate nuts 24 on the other threaded ends. The distance between crossbar 14 and pull bar 18 is determined by the spacers 26,'which are tubular elements surrounding the bolts 20;

Pull bar 18 has a horizontal extension 28 in which is located a self-aligningbearing 30 which may be of the type currently made by the Shafer Bearing Company for aircraft roller bearings. The bearing used herein will onlybe subjected to slight oscillating motion and the races and bearings are constructed to have zero clearance, so that there will be no play in the bearing during the reciprocating movement of the apron sections.

Positioned above and below the extension 28 are a pair of horizontal vertically spaced extensions 32 and 34 which are integral with and constitute part of the eccentric strap yoke 36. The extensions 32 and 34 fit closely but freely on the upper and lower sides of the pull bar extension 28. Extension 32 has a vertical hole 38 therethrough which is in exact vertical alignment with a corresponding hole 40 in extension 34. The diameters of these holes are the same as the interior bore 41 of the inner race '42 of bearing 30. A stud 44 is driven into forced fit engagement with the holes 38 and 40 and the opening '41 through the inner race 42 of bearing 30. Since the outer race 46 of bearing St is in forced fit engagement with the corresponding vertical opening 47 through extension 28, it follows that pull bar 18 and eccentric. strap yoke 36 are in pivoted relation toeach other by a mechanism in ing 66. I i [A suitable roller bearing whichmay be according to andfthe apron sections. -The-e ccentric mechanism 7 which there is no play. It is, furtherapparent that'since the insertion of stud 44 into the several parts '32, 42' and 34 can be made while,

"aaearsa f a r a I the pull. bar lS-and eccentric strap yoke, 36 are separated;

from the condenser, special machinery may be used 'to 'insure the alignment and tight it of the parts.

face 43 of strap yoke 36 is adapted to make engagement with a corresponding vertical smooth face 50 on the side of eccentric strap 52. The eccentric strap is threaded as: at 54 and 56 to receive the threaded bolts 58 and 59 which pass through suitable holes. 60 and 61 at the 'ends of the body of eccentric strap yoke 36. These holes are oversize in a vertical direction so that the eccentric strap yoke 36 may be adjusted vertically with respect to the eccentric strap 52. v a V V The eccentric strap 52 is shown in section in Fig. 3, anditwill be noted that the circular portion comprises a The stud '44 back'and forth in the apron rolls shafts. Pull bar'18 is rigid with respect the direction of the axes of to crossbar l4 and as thefeccentric strap is oscillated by the shafted, all of the apron rolls and associated parts are caused to oscillate back and forth in a horizontal plane. The extent of the movement will, as stated before, be controlled bythe angular setting of the inner bushing 84 with respect to the outer bushing '39. Thus the result accomplished by the mechanism herein disclosed is identical-with that of the known devicesof the prior art, but the'iieficiencie's of the constructions now in use are'entirely eliminated. Experience has shown that if breakage should occur, it will most likeiybe in extensions 32. and 34." A secondary place of possible-breakage might be the separation of extension 23 from pull bar 18. If either of these events should occur, the damage can be quickly and readily rewall 62 from which extends inwardly an annular bottom portion 64 to provide a central circular vertical openthe construction 'made. by the Hyatt Roller Bearing Company comprisesan outer race 68, an inner race 70,

7 between which are rollers 72 maintained in spaced relation by a separator 74. r V

The outer wall may include a lubricating nipple 7 whereby lubricant may be introduced into the channel 78 to -insure proper lubrication of the roller bearing;

Theinterior periphery of inner race 70 isin forced in engagement with a cylindrical member 8% which has therethrough an .eccentrically located cylindrical hole .82.

Another cylindrical'element 84 closely fits within hole Cylindrical memand is rotatable with respect thereto. I ber 34 is mounted eccentrically on shaft 86. Shaft 86 and members 36 and. 84 thereon are conventional elements in-use with tape condensers and may be driven any. suitable manner. In Fig. 1, shaft 86 is shown paired. To. make the repair the following procedure is followed: Bolts 58 and 5are removed, freeing theflecc'entric strap. yoke 36 from the eccentricfst rap 52. The lengthof thesebolts is such that they may be completely unscrewed before engaging any portion of the pull balr 1st The nuts 24 are then removed from the threaded ends of bolts 20,. which bolts are'then pushed toward 7 the apron sections through the spacers 26 and crossbar 1 4 until their ends are within the spacers. At this P i t the pull bar 18 and connected eccentric strapyokef36 may be withdrawn from the machine for any necessary repairs. Such repairs can be made at the. workbench and special equipment can be used to reassemble the various parts'so that the pivoted connection between extension 28 and extensions 32 and 34 is withouti play.

It will "be understood, of course, that other'st-ruotural relationships of the parts suggested by theforegoing description might be used which would provide a suitably connected removable pull bar and eccentric strap yoke.

- For example, the spaced elements 32 and 3.4 might be connected to a pulley 88 which' may be driven by a belt from av suitable source of power. 1 V

' Cylindrical element 84 is keyed to shaft 86 and other means now in common use is provided for securing cylin drical member 84 to member 80 inany selected angular position. 'It is obvious. that by changing the angular" position of member 84v with respect tojmember 80 the eccentricity of inner race 70 and hence the entire eccentrio strap. with respect to shaft 86 may be varied from zero; as, shown in. Fig. 2, to a maximum which will occur when the widest part 85 of member 84 is adjacent V thefwidest part 87 of member'stl'; Rotation of member a 84180 degreesfromthe position shown in Fig. 2 with a respect to member 80 will give maximum eccentricity to the ,.eccentric; strap 52 and. for angular adjustments of inember 8'4 betweenzero and 180' degrees lesser degrees mounted onthe pull bar 18 while the extension 28 con taining the self-aligning bearing mightbe afiixed to the eccentric strap yoke. Any equivalent mechanism which will eifect oscillating connection between the pull bar 'and I claim: a 1 1 '1. In -a tape condenserwhich includes a crossbar to,

which are'aflixedthe. shafts of the, apron rolls and. an eccentric strap for horizontallyoscillat-ing said rolls, a

. pull bar removably attached to .said'crossbar and an ofgeccentricityare available] The settingof the element f:

, with respectfto {it is determined, 'by the extentof 'horizontal motion it is desired to imposeon crossbar 14 rangement contained in the eccentricstrap' 52 .is 'old 7 inthe art and no claim to invention is made with respect thereto. Likewise the spacer 90 and collars 92 shown in Fig. 1' are all'old mechanisms for maintaining the. 7

eccentrics in properly spaced vertical position on eccenand the roller bearing ar- 1 trio shaft'86. The general intention, 0f course, is to position the eccentric straps on shaft 86 so that theywill be vertically aligned with the shafts -10 ofthe two apron sections 4. and 6. With the two eccentric strapsSZ in position onws haft '86, as shown in Fig. 1, any further qvertical; adjustment needed is taken care of by loosening bolts-'58 an d'59- and shifting faces 48 and 5t) vertically i with respect toeach oth r.

QWith-the'condenser in operation and the eccentric ele- Y 'men tsSl) and, 8'4'set to produce the proper stroke, the feccentricl strap "52 will be; caused to travel in a path cccentricallyof shaft 86 thus to move. the connecting eccentric strap yoke removably attached to said, eccentric strap, and meansincluding a non-clearanceself-aligning roller bearing for connecting said pull bar-and said. eccentricstrap yoke. a

2. In a tape condenser as set forth in claim 1,1 said means comprising a pair of horizontally extending verti cally spaced elements which straddle said bearing and a stud in forced fit relation with said, elements and. said bearing.

3. Ina tape condenser as set forth inclaim 1; said-pull bar attachedto said crossbar by bolts removable from said pull bar 'and said eccentric strap yoke connected to said eccentric strapby removable threaded members whereby upon removing said bolts and, threaded members, said pull bar and eccentric strap yoke, whilestill connected to said bearing, can be removed asa unit.

.4. In a tape condenser which includes 'an' eccentric strap and apron section,-removable means for connecting the said eccentric strap to the said apron section,- said means comprising an eccentric strap yokefor connection to the eccentric strap, a pull bar for connection to the end crossbar of an apron section, said eccentric strap yoke and said pull bar having elements extending toward each other and positioned in overlapping vertical arrangement, one of said overlapping elements having a vertical opening therethrough, a self-aligning bearing positioned in and fixed with respect to said opening, said bearing having a central bore therethrough, the other of said overlapping elements having a vertical hole therethrough of the same size as the said central bore of said selfaligning bearing and being in alignment therewith, and a vertical stud in pressed fit relation with the bore of said bearing and the said hole of the said other element.

5. In a tape condenser which includes an eccentric strap and apron section, removable means for connecting the said eccentric strap to the said apron section, said means comprising an eccentric strap yoke for connection to the eccentric strap, said yoke including two horizontal vertically spaced elements with aligned vertical holes therethrough, a pull bar for connection to the end crossbar of an apron section, said pull oar having intermediate its ends an extension positioned between said spaced elements, said extension having a vertical opening therethrough, a self-aligning bearing fixed in said opening and having a central bore therethrough of the same size as said vertical holes, and a vertical stud in pressed fit relation with the hole of said upper element, the bore of said bearing and the hole of said lower element.

6. In a tape condenser as set forth in claim 5, and means for connecting said pull bar to said end crossbar comprising a pair of bolts with nuts on the pull bar end thereof and extending through said pull bar and crossbar and removable from said pull bar upon-removing said nuts by moving the bolts in the direction of said crossbar, and spacers on said bolts for positioning said pull bar with respect to said crossbar.

7. In a tape condenser as set forth in claim 5, said eccentric strap yoke and said eccentric strap having abutting faces and being vertically adjustable with respect to each other, a pair of threaded members connecting said strap yoke and eccentric strap and extending through over-sized holes in said strap yoke whereby said vertical adjustment may be accomplished.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

